Secret Lawn Tonic Recipe From Golf Course Groundskeeper

I am always on the lookout for gardening tips and cheats because, well, I'm awful at gardening. My local news station airs this one every year, and it has always worked wonders for my lawn. And as I live in the arid climate of Colorado, it's even more useful these days. (See also: 7 Ways to Improve the Life of Your Lawn Mower)

The recipe came from Tim Heffron, a former groundskeeper at a golf course. All you need are five common household ingredients and a 10-gallon hose-end sprayer. This recipe can be modified slightly for other less dry climates, but for areas like Colorado it works wonders. And it's a heck of a lot cheaper and more effective than the store-bought mixes.

UPDATE
I have received several emails recently asking me about the 10-gallon hose end sprayer, and if you need to add 10 gallons of water to the solution. The 10-gallon hose end sprayer is actually quite small, enough to fit the undiluted solution. You fill the hose end sprayer, attach it to your hose and turn on the water. The solution is mixed with water as it sprays out, automatically diluting it, and should give you enough for 10 gallons of the diluted mixture. I hope that helps.

That's it! Simple, easy, cheap and very very effective. But I already know what you're asking. How does this work? Well, Heffron explains the science behind the homemade tonic:

The liquid soap is a wetting agent, helping the formula penetrate the roots.

The ammonia promotes growth and turns your lawn green.

The mouthwash does something you would never suspect mouthwash would do. It kills the bugs and grubs.

NOTE: Do NOT use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid in the mixture as it will kill off important microbes in the lawn and soil that help "digest" thatch.

Says Tim,

"It essentially messes-up their re-productive cycles and keeps them out of your lawn and makes it look a lot better and leaves it minty fresh," laughs Heffron. And because it's applied with the hose sprayer, it's a direct shot to your sod. "When you don't have a lot of water and we're on watering restrictions, this is another way to get the nutrients to your lawn and keep it growing."

So there you have it. My lawn is already starting to awaken from its winter hibernation here in Colorado, and it won't be long before the scorching sun will turn the neighbors' new green growth into brown, dry thatch. But with my trusty tonic by my side, my lawn will be greener than blood from a Vulcan.

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Living in Florida I hope this works. Just had a bunch of 419 tif installed and it's dying rather quickly. I did lots of water and all of a sudden after 2 weeks I noticed I was losing it. Well it's 6 weeks now looks a little better but not even close to what it was.

I followed the directions for this recipe and applied it to the lawn last fall and again this spring, and have used the recipe a total of four times so far. I mixed as the recipe directed but added the beer and cola last in the 10gal. end sprayer. I used an Ortho dial a spray and set it at the four ounce setting dial on the top. The hose end sprayer holds 32 oz. and I just add a little less beer and apply on a 1000sq ft area at a time. I have a 100ft hose so marking off the yard was easy and I placed a small stake at each area of yard I marked off. I had to make the mix three times to cover my yard, and I bought all the supplies at the DollarStore and whenever I saw an item I used on sale I would buy it when I was already out shopping. I bought a 12pk of beer that was on sale as well as soda and I have to say that I still had plenty left of my supplies and I had only spent 16.00 when I started applying again this Spring. My yard looks great and everyone asks what I use and they wished their yards looked like mine. I don't mow when the weather is very hot, and I try to mow before a rainshower or thunderstorm to conserve water and save myself work. I was very skeptical about this at first, but I can say this, it works, I have a fertilizer applicator( you know the kind with the wheels and you fill with the grainy white junk) and I have retired it. I have been using the same mix on my azaleas but every two weeks instead of three and this year they bloomed themselves out. If you measure and use it, it will work for you too. I marked a calendar and kept in the garage next to the mower so I wouldnt forget.

Thanks Guest! To know it worked for you is great. To know you retired your regular fertilizer in favor of it, well that's the highest praise for the formula.

Vickie J #4

Since you used this on azaleas - can it be used in in flower garden area or will it hurt the flowers? Have the ingredients and going to try this weekend. Would also like to know if it will get rid of crabgrass? This house I have taken over has been
neglect for 12 - 15 years and is overrun with crabgrass.

Guest william H #5

Question can I add epson salt to the beer mix? I have also heard add mouth wash will that be ok? I bought miracle grow sprayer 50 gallon hose att. I have .24 acher lot size. How much mix should I put in it? Please let me know ps its st agu grass and the nozzle has 3 different spray mods. Trugreen just isn't giving me the results I am wanting. I know you have it listed here but I need to know the mix and how many times would I need to make the mix for.my lawn size? Please help

I have used this on my lawns since around 2002. Every home we have lived in (2 rentals and now I am buying) has gotten this lawn treatment and the envy of my neighbors. Sure lots of people will say that this does not work...blah, blah, blah. They never stop to think what did people do to grow things prior to all the products you can brought at the store? I will not take the time to explain the basic science behind using these items on your lawn. Honestly, I hope the doubters don't use this formula quite frankly. I wish that some of these formulas remained a secret, but since they are out, the less people use them the better IMO. I like having the best lawn on my street. Please post more comments how this DOES WORK! Thanks.

dennis #7

i have seen similar recipes. one being two beers without the soda,and 1 being with half a cup of epson salt. either way i been just using organic fertilizer on grass, grow veggies and have a dog so just pre mixed a quart. gonna be hot tomorrow will try. thanks will let you know.

More information about the components of this mixture. The anti bacterial soap verses regular isn't that important. While it would seem that anti bacterial would kill important microbes, there is a very minute amount of that...when compared to the 1/2 cup of mouthwash, which will also kill bacteria. I am not saying that one should omit either, but realize that all the chemicals are being mixed together to create a nice blend and mixture. It is also important that this mixture is then going to be diluted (very diluted in fact) with water, in the hose-end-sprayer.

For those who might find it interesting I will try to break down the chemicals into general terms. The soda had loads of sugar (hopefully this isn't a surprise to anyone!! ) and the sugar is a needed element of breaking down organic in the soil, which helps to turn them into nutrients which the plants (hopefully just grass!) can use. Ammonia could be considered in this application as a 30-0-0....or a fertilizer that is very heavy in Nitrogen. Beer, is a well balanced fertilzier maybe a 6-6-6. Mixing that with ammonia in the quantities specified makes something similar to that which one might purchase at a store. The soap is an emulsifier. Plants produce wax as a protective coating, the wax builds a layer on the top of the soil, and the soap breaks that down and also breaks down other organic materials in the soil. This allows more nutrients to reach the roots. The mouthwash kills bacteria in the soil. It is potent enough (no even close or near it actually) to kill or harm the grass but it can kill bugs any other smaller things. They decompose and also help the grass.

Is there any minimum time before cutting or in advance/after rain or watering?

Oh, on last question - Everyone says that it makes their lawn green, but what about thickening the lawn?

Thanks!

Guest #11

I just tried this the other day and we had a downpour and rain on and off for the past 2 days. I'm afraid the first application is too diluted at this point to have any affect. What do you think? Should I reapply, or am I going to damage the lawn by "over-tonic-ing"?

I used this recipe many times with variable success. The author never bothered to state the application rate, so it's a guess. My 10-gal hose end sprayer, like many others, has a dial for setting the mixing rate. Too rich, and I can burn my lawn. Too lean, and it won't be effective. Does anyone know what rate to use?

Well this is going to be my 3rd application, First two in may, I haven't noticed any difference yet. we did have several heavy rain showers a day or so after initial application so maybe the solution was deluted down by the rain. I'm applying this over a 2000sq ft area. Well I'm headed out the back door now with solution in hand.

dave #14

OK, I'm finished and will be waiting for the results. The weather looks like it is going to cooperate this time. We had a good rain this morning and clear sky's now. Temperature in the upper 80's.

dave #15

I must say that so far this spring my dog has done a better job of fertilizing the yard than this stuff. Good girl, go potty. Lots of beautiful round green lush spots. But I'm going to continue trying so I can prove to my brother inlaw that this stuff really works. He just laughs.

GuestBob #16

how often can you use this tonic on your lawn. I'm in Long Island N>Y> and help please?

weatherreport #17

I've been using this on my lawn for over 10 years. Not that it means much to anyone, but I swear by it. I've actually had lawn company sales people ask me what company I'm using on it. And all of my neighbors are using this on their lawns.

One point that's not mentioned in the article: it's best to apply this in the morning, AFTER you've lightly watered the lawn first.

A prior poster asked about soaps: I like regular Joy and Ivory the best.

And applying in high heat is fine. Again it's just best to apply it in early in the day.

I have tried this recipe before and it did wonders for my lawn. i actually had it written on my garage wall for fast, easy reference. However, since I have moved twice since those days, I could never remember the recipe.

I did always remember the beer, but I would always get out of the liquor store and forget the rest of the ingredients, so I usually just drank the beer while fertilizing with store bought stuff. ;)

I am a biologist and a chemist, a PhD in both. The ammonia has such a small amount of nitrogen in it, and it has such a high evaporation rate, that very little if any of the nitrogen reaches the roots. The beer is supposed to be used for the active yeast for breaking down the mulch, but in processed beer the yeast is dead. The shampoo makes the blades of the grass shiny and does sort of act as a soil softener. The soda is just plain silly and attracts more bugs that the mouthwash would kill. Plain soap would do a much better job at killing the little aphids on your plants if you had them, the soap coats their skin and prevents them from breathing. If you want to actually 'test' this concoction, I recommend actually measuring the results. Mark out two sections of lawn one square foot each and mark them with spray paint or ribbon; put them some distance apart in equal amounts of sun/shade. Measure the of mulch in each sample - at this point - they should be the same. Next test the soil hardness by pressing down on the soil, you could use an expensive tool, or you could just see how much 'give' the soil has and how hard you have to press to make an indentation of a certain size. As far as the bugs, yes, you would have to count them. Next do your treatment on only one sample. Then remeasure each sample every five days to a week. Re-treat and then remeasure each week. If in eight weeks after two applications, the only thing you will see is that the treated sample is shiny. I recommend, taking a shower with the soap, rinsing with the mouthwash, dumping the soda (useless anyway), and drinking the beer. I have the best lawn in the neighborhood. I drink the beer while I use iron to make the lawn greener with out expediting the growth. Use Milorganite to also make it green and promote growth (all natural, comes from water treatment plants) PS: If you 'must' do this goofy mixture, put a golf ball in the sprayer to help mix while you apply.
Seriously people - think and test. Be your own judge.

Dave here, I'm going to try again. If this doesn't work this time I would like someone to give me the name brand of all the ingredients you used as I used cheap value brands. Maybe there is a difference and please be specific on the application rate.

Barb S #21

I don't know the exact "science" of how each of these ingredients work, but I use this tonic faithfully on my lawn and not to brag, but I have the best lawn on the block. I have people stop all the time and tell me how beautiful my lawn is. I have been watching my neighbors yard who spends hundreds of dollars a year on lawn-care companies and my yard is 100% better looking than theirs. If it works for one person, they all you nay-sayers can do what works for YOU!!! I think perhaps some of these people own or work for lawn-care companies. I've had them myself, but they just didn't do for me what I expected. I take care of my OWN yard now!!! No need to judge people who choose to try this on their lawn. It is far better than using chemicals and I'm not saying this provides ALL of the nutrients your lawn may need. It is an individual thing and I do recommend you have your soil tested to see what your lawn is requiring. For me, I water my lawn prior to putting the tonic on (or right after a rainfall), that way it isn't just evaporating. I do it once a month and I use an Ortho brand sprayer that holds all of the tonic. I set my dial just below "4" and the water automatically mixes in the proper ratio. I would say this mixture is enough to cover at least 10,000 sq. ft as that is what size my lawn is. I spray it on pretty good...It makes my grass super soft and I do not see a lot of insects or insect damage on my lawn. It has NEVER turned my lawn brown or killed the grass....I do not use "Dawn" detergent because as someone said, it has degreaser in it. I just go to the Dollar store and buy the cheapest dishsoap that is not anti-bacterial or containing degreaser and the cheapest mouthwash, ammonia, generic soda and whatever brand of beer we have in the fridge. Just don't used diet soda. Works great for me and I hope it does the same for you!!! Keep us all posted on your results!!!

Barb I can tell you that I do not own or work for a professional lawncare service. I too take care of my own yard. I must admit I have in the past ( prior to this year) purchase store bought seasonal fertilizers. Trust me I would love for this solution to work for me also, but unfortunately I have yet to see any results. One item that I deleted was the mouthwash as I thought that was used to kill grubs and or other insects. Also used a Miracle-Gro hose-end sprayer. (Does not have a dial adjustment) It could very well be that this sprayer is not mixing the formula appropriately and leaving out the mouthwash has had an adverse effect. I can say that I enjoy working in my yard and have also had one of the nicer yards in the neighborhood. Next step would be to buy the Ortho sprayer and add the mouthwash before I make final judgement.

Guest-NC #23

Barb S, thank you for sharing your experience. I plan to try this but I'm stuck on the sprayer. I went to Lowes and didn't see a 10gallon sprayer so after reading all of the comments I'm convinced that it doesn't have to be that big and it's the dial settings that matter. One question though...what size(quart, 1 gallon, 2gallon etc) sprayer container do you use with the dial setting just under 4?

We live in Orlando, Florida. We do it about once a quarter. We would never do anything else. We have the greenest lawn in the neighborhood, even through the hottest months while everyone else's lawn is burning up... And it definitely keeps the pesky bugs away... It's the bomb!

I used an Ortho 32 oz sprayer (the mixture just fits) and set it at 2.5 oz per gallon. I slowly walked the yard 1/2 acre. I had to make 5 batches. As far as what the ingredients do specifically I'm not sure but it works for me.

The yard does smell minty fresh which is kind of nice but it fades by the next day. I can honestly say that this worked for me as my grass is super green. I even had some grass coming up that I had seeded in the fall. The new grass was not as green as my established grass but after spraying this mixture it greened right up. My grass is super green and my surrounding neighbors lawns are no where near as green. It almost looks like I painted it a dark green.

I would let it dry before your pets walk on it.

Anyway it works for me so hopefully it will work for you. I plan on spraying the lawn every 4 to 6 weeks.

I followed this tonic to the tee and sprayed on Wed. and by friday, my lawn seemed to be turning brown. Noone shows any before or after pictures and nothing says anywhere that it will turn brown before it turns green. Has anyone experienced this?

Guest #37

Wanted to try this but...
My 10 gal. sprayer has a measuring idle.
It measures 1 tsp-4 tsp, 1-3 tbs and 1-8 oz.
So what setting should I use.

I found this article, and read all the comments, looking for a solution to my garden problem. I live in Clearwater Florida, bought this house about a year ago. So far, I have not been able to grow much of ANYTHING, not even weeds. Most of my neighbors have lawns without watering or fertilizing, and I have been trying and I have mostly bare dirt.

I went looking on the Internet for the rate of application of Ivory Dishwashing Liquid to correct soil that repels water. The soil here is pure sand, yet hard. I have to work hard to soak an area just to dig a hole to plant grass plugs, and when the hole is finally dug, the soil is bone dry underneath. So then I filled the holes with water, and it doesn't drain. I finally realized that this is why nothing will grow.

So, I do have a specific issue to address, and the entire property needs the addition of a surfectant so that water will penetrate the soil. Ivory dish liquid is the inexpensive answer (and the rate would be as per the recipe given here, diluted just with water. I will add food coloring or Miracle Grow so that I know when the solution is gone from the sprayer.).

I am not sure about the other ingredients in this recipe, if they do any good. I can say with certainty that if diluted per the instructions, they won't do any harm. However my guess is that it is the DISH SOAP that makes the biggest difference and results in the reports of "greenest lawn" among the comments.

Soil wetting agents are discussed in many places on the Internet, and I believe it was Colorado State University IFAS Extension website where I found discussion that... the soil should be well watered (as much as possible) before and after application to move the surfectant through the soil. You want some of that soap to get down well into the soil so that water behaves as it should to wet roots, and then keeps on draining away from the roots.

How much to apply? Has been asked over and over, and answered in the comments. Perhaps the blog owner could revise his article once more, to give the full answer which is: Apply as much as you like, so long as you dilute it per the instructions (hose end sprayer on any setting, and don't be stingy with water).

So - I've read through all the comments and, although I haven't personally tried it, I AM planning on it. Everyone seems to be hung up on how much to use. The article says 3 oz/10 gal. My sprayer has tea/tablespoon settings. There are 2 tablespoons in a fluid oz. That would make SIX teaspoons (3 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon), but my sprayer only goes up to 4, so I'll use that and hope for the best. Anything is probably better than nothing. Even if it doesn't really do anything, it's not earth-shattering to try it.
As for it working or not working, please remember that all soils and weather conditions are not created equally. What may work in Colorado may not work as well (or maybe better?) in Hawaii. The advice and recipe here are free, though, so use it or don't. Again, the results are going to vary for every lawn it's used on. It may even go so far as working well on YOUR lawn, but do nothing for your next door neighbor.
As far as pets go, if your pet is eating the grass, something is missing in it's diet. Talk to your vet about that one. As far as just walking around on it, just keep the pet from walking on it until it dries. The same advice would be given from the big lawn care pros with their chemical sprays.
Ok, I'm off to give my lawn a bath. If anything, maybe it will just get it a little drunk. That's ok, too, though, as it won't be driving any time soon! :-D

The article says don't use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid, but most mouthwash are anti-bacterial. It does I can use any brand of mouthwash. So the anti-bacteria ingredient in mouthwash is different from the one in dishwashing liquid? I don't get it. Unfortunately, I sprayed it this afternoon, and I just realized it now (5 hours later). I will see if it works or not.

Tried it just a few days ago. The lawn does seem a little greener so far. I thought I was going to have to buy one of those hose end sprayers but found I had several leftover lawn weed killer bottles that just happen to be hose end sprayers that work just fine. The miracle grow solids sprayers did not work right in my opinion because they are filling with water all the time to dilute solids. This stuff is a lot cheaper at the dollar stores. So we have to keep Pabst Blue Ribbon on hand now. Even with those $0.75 beers an application might not even cost me $2 for my whole yard. My yard was just starting to look kind of dead in comparison to the neighbors but now it's looking good.

Too bad its Jerry Baker's recipe from 25 years ago.Yah know that nutty guy who was a renowned gardener always mixing up things to use in the garden.He also said metal things were good cause the static electricity from storms would super charge the plants even more when storms passed by..

This has been a dry spring/summer here in Michigan. I'm built on a sandpit with very little topsoil to hold moisture or feed the lawn. So I am dry even in a rainy year. I've been watering like crazy this year to little avail. Also fertilized spring and summer. Used iron for quick greening. Nothing. Tried this, and one week later(and one good soaking rain later), I have the only green lawn in the area, and many others have in-ground sprinklinng systems and use the commercial companies with truck sprayers. They're bummin'- I'm NOT. I'd say this works, but I've also been watering and previously did use normal purchased products already. But this stuff did it as far as I'm concerned. I put it on using 5oz setting. If you killed your lawn with it, I'd guess you haven't watered after, or you put it on way too rich, or both.

Bought a home 3 years ago and the front lawn was mostly weeds. I spent last year planting and pulling tons of the weeds only to have my new grass die. I found out it was grubs a little too late so everything I planted last year is dead. This year I started again, after killing off the grubs. I can't tell you how many trash bags full of weeds I pulled. My wrist is so messed up because of the pulling. I pulled runners of grass and replanted in the bare areas and then I came across this blog. I thought, what the hell, it can't get any worse. Well, I did not add the beer or soda because we drink neither and I didn't even measure the other ingredients. It has been 3 weeks and my lawn looks so much better. It is even greener than my neighbor who used to be the envy of the neighborhood. I plan on doing it again in about a week. I still have a ton of work, getting things to fill in and pulling yet more weeds but I am well on my way. I am in Dallas Texas USA by the way

susan #57

I've made the mix but my sprayer is 32 oz what setting should I use.....urgent and thank you so much

Hi, I have a friend who lives in Canada, she just started to use this tonic, eventhough she got the recipe from some guys we treat a golf field. She says that it is been working great on the lawn but my question is if this tonic can be applied directly to perennials and evergreens since she doesn't have any plant. I have pereennials, some fruit trees and pines and two of those (one white pine and one ireland pine) has been eaten by moths, they're becoming a big problem in my garden besides the grubs, just today I killed tlike 35 grubs as I worked in the garden.

This "Tonic" really works! When we purchased our first home we had the ugly patchy brown grass, We called a landscaper to see how much it would cost to bring our grass back to life. After hearing him talk about how many things he had to do to bring it back to a beautiful green came the price..... $1,000.00. I could not believe it! It was a small area. Well we did not go with the landscaper, but my husband did purchase a Jerry Baker book. In the book was the tonic.... We tried it on the grass and we had the best looking grass on the block (as told by our neighbors, family and friends).

I am amazed at the comments, if you have doubts, try a small area, And I cannot believe all the questions about how much water, can't you people read. Thanks Paul for this info. I will try it this spring. I believe that the Landscapers wwont tell you the truth, they need to make money on their fertilizers. I bet some are doing this.

I am so excited about trying this on my lawn in No. Central Florida. For a year or so I have admired a lawn in our town. It is absolutely beautiful! I decided to stop and ask the owner just how she kept the grass so perfect. She told me the only thing she did was treat it every 3 weeks with this tonic! She showed me her 10 gal. hose end sprayer but I hadn't been able to locate one anywhere. Now I can refer to the comments with the proper ratio for mixing in any sprayer. Thanks!! She has no sprinkler system or professional pest control. She sprays all of her plants and hedges and they are amazing. She does water with a regular sprinkler regularly. After reading these comments, I can't wait to see what happens!

I have a Ortho Dial sprayer, at what rate do I use this on, ie 1 tsp per gallon etc. Also how many square feet will this cover in one mixture (10x10 sq feet?) the writer doesn't say. I just applied this today (9/17/13) so it'll be awhile before I see some results. I live in Chattanooga TN & the temp is around 80 during the day, someone let me know how this works please. thanks

Just a quick note, I am sort of a packrat and I use whatever I find when I need something for my yard or garden. One of my neighbors wrecked thier camp trailer so I hauled it to my yard and took out the fresh water tanks and the water pump.(sold the rest for scrap) I put everything together with some old hoses that I had and wired up the motor to the battery of my lawn tractor. Now I have a 28 gallon fertilizer sprayer and am going to use your tonic formula on part of my 5 acres of lawn.
I will let you know how I do.

I always add one cup of ordinary household ammonia to the liquid lawn food I buy and spray it on all summer long ! It cannot burn the grass in hot weather like granular fertilizer that is very expensive and can be corrosive and toxic.....and my lawn is very green !